Ugly Betty: An Analysis of Betty and Daniel — Could it really be love?

Now and again, I like to binge-watch shows that I watched in my teens. I have the time and I think it’s good to look back at things with a new perspective and see how much I have actually changed.

Upon re-watching a show there are new things you notice and when it comes to Ugly Betty, it’s evident to me now that the relationship between our protagonist, Betty Suarez and her boss for the most part, Daniel Meade, presents us with a complex relationship and shows us how love can blossom in the most unexpected of ways, over time.

For those who have never watched the show, Betty is appointed by Daniel’s father, Bradford Meade, to be Daniel’s assistant in order to prevent him from getting amorous with yet another assistant (he is a bit of a lothario).

Betty’s unconventional appearance prompts this decision, but it’s evident that Bradford values Betty’s personality as well and her actions prove to him that she may be a good influence on his son. There is of course an initial fight back from Daniel, but after the first episode, the beginning of the Betty/Daniel dynamic occurs.

Daniel and Betty represent two different worlds and it’s clear that their ideals will often clash, and they will learn from one another, and that is a key ingredient into making their relationship work. They do indeed have a partnership; however, the power balance is non-existent to start.

Within the show, Betty played the role of the assistant for most of the show. It was within the third season she branched out and by the fourth she no longer worked for him directly as she had her own career to advance.

Being the assistant for so long however had a great impact on their relationship and it meant that even when things changed, Betty always puts in a lot more effort into their relationship as beforehand she had to do so out of obligation, but when they transitioned to being friends, the balance wasn’t equal because it didn’t start out that way.

The role of an assistant is to make their bosses life easier, more efficient and practical, but Betty’s personality alongside Daniel’s helplessness, meant that she played the roles of mother, sister, friend, lover etc. The qualities we attribute to certain types of people, were within Betty all for Daniel.

She constantly did things to spare his feelings or push him to be a better person. She would help him out of sticky situations and was often his confidant and good counsel. She ignited the good qualities in Daniel that made him loveable beyond the exterior.

Eventually he would reciprocate the energy she put into him, through trying to be a better man, especially in her eyes and at times he went above and beyond in his actions to help her out. However, for the most part in their relationship, he is selfish and therefore allowing him to have more access to her than he should have been permitted when they entered new stages in their relationship.

Throughout the series, we glimpse how their relationship is one that intertwined their lives and blurred their boundaries. There were no clear rules that defined the professional and the personal, because all too often, Daniel’s personal affected the professional. This forced Betty to be involved with matters of the heart, however, this in turn meant that Daniel felt the need to do the same.

Like a close friend, a father, a former lover or a child seeing their mother dating, Daniel at times was very involved in Betty’s romantic life, more than a boss or a regular friend would be. He glimpsed when men desired her and overstepped with his advice and actions as he wanted to ‘protect’ her.

Whilst it is valiant and noble to protect those you love, the type of relationship they had did not warrant such interventions at times. This aspect of their dynamic seemed to make room a different avenue that their relationship could go down. It is one that was explored within the final few episodes of the show’s run.

For the longest time it was clear that Daniel didn’t find Betty attractive. She was unrefined in dress sense, not supermodel thin like he was used to or conventionally pretty like the models within the industry they worked. The show was called Ugly Betty after all, so she was ‘ugly’ and not desirable in that sense.

Over time, her appearance softened, and her beauty became more evident. Like the story of the ugly duckling, she shed her tattered feathers and underwent a transformation to turn her into a beautiful swan. Her beauty was not conventional still, but the overarching message was that beauty comes in different modicums, and finally she was someone that more people could find attractive.

With these changes over time, it appeared that Daniel complimented Betty more and more on her appearance and allowed the element of sexual tension to be infused little by little.

Furthermore, her change in appearance came at a time when their professional and personal relationship entered a new phase. With is added sexual tension, the disagreements they had changed in tone and they began to fight with passion; fight like lovers. They’d fought before but not in such a manner. And despite them still being concerned with their own love lives at this stage, the passion can’t be refuted.

When the series is coming to an end, it is first audibly said that Daniel is in love with Betty. Daniel’s mother, Claire Meade, is the one who points out this fact when Daniel refuses to let Betty leave for a job opportunity in Europe (London to be exact).

Here is when the all the scenes we’ve been given with the pair come together in order for us to create a montage of love and happiness for the pair. In the episodes that build up to this, we see them in situations where they gaze longingly at one another from across, says things they didn’t mean and apologise compassionately.

We are also reminded of everything they have faced together and how they have been one another’s support for several years; therefore, it makes sense that they are gravitating to one another romantically.

However, despite all this, circumstance plays a greater role and it is more vital for Betty’s character to choose herself and advance her career. Choosing herself is not to suggest that Betty doesn’t love Daniel like he loves her, but it shifts the dynamic in order to allow the selfish part of Daniel within their relationship disappear and prompt greater action from him if he truly wants her, but more so her happiness. He is put in a position of putting his ego aside and let go of someone he loves.

In the end, Betty moves to London, but the potential love story that could be is not cancelled. We find our dear Daniel has travelled to London and in in a city of 8 million people he bumps into Betty so casually and asks her to dinner.

It’s an ambiguous ending, but for the hopeless romantics, there is hope that that is the beginning of a new chapter for them where they take the years they’ve had together and build a romantic relationship on that foundation. Also, Wikipedia labels them as future spouses, but of course you can’t trust everything you read on Wikipedia.

When you watch the show’s first episode and last, it’s hard to imagine how we got there. At times it seems like a very idealistic ending that was just dropped in for the final few episodes of the season, however, it’s definitely something that was being built up throughout the show.

For starters, Betty’s relationship with the Meade family puts her in all their good graces. Bradford saw that she was special and good for Daniel. Claire was like a mother to Betty and really appreciated her and all that she did for their family. She had acceptance from his parents, and they regarded her very dearly, they could trust her with Daniel and that’s a very important thing for a family with so little of it.

Secondly, the Suarez family loved Daniel too, although more sceptical of his behaviours, they welcomed him into their home many a time with open arms.

Then, there was the fact that Daniel loved — and lost — an ordinary woman. Molly’s relationship with Daniel introduced many things into the show, especially the idea that Daniel did not need an upper-class woman to spend his life with, thus making room for a future with Betty. Although it was a love story of its own, it made an impact on Daniel’s character that was vital for the ending.

Lastly, it was clear that the pair truly had a love between them. It was one founded on the history they share with their lives so intertwined. They shared their highs and lows in life. It is now wonder that when Hilda, Betty’s older sister, speaks at her (own) wedding, that the words really impacted Daniel and that’s when he realised, he’d protect Betty at all costs because he did love her in more than one way.

When you put together all their moments it’s as clear as day that they were going to end up together.

What was a relationship based on dependence, transitioned over time. It was no longer one where, whenever he called, she came running. In the end there was a mutual love and respect and they viewed each other as people in love do. The ending of the show is suggestive that they carry their past as it is their foundation but are looking towards the future with endless possibilities for them.

**BONUS CONTENT**

You made it to the end, thanks for reading, so here’s a tier ranking of Betty’s previous lovers.

God Tier

Gio — fun, sexy, told it like it was and a tad dramatic, we love drama! He challenges Betty and she responds to these challenges well. She opens up to with ease, nothing is ever forced. He deserved better and I’m glad he found it. Also, he’s Italian, that’s hot.

Good Tier

Max — He was cute, smart and RICH. In all honesty he was a tame rich boy to get Betty used to being with a guy like that, they pretty much used him as a prop to make way for Daniel. He’s the ending I would’ve preferred for her, but I guess he had to go find himself.

Bad boy Bobby — Adam Rodriguez is hot so even if he wasn’t for Betty (he marries Betty’s sister, Hilda), he won’t be any lower than good.

Alright Tier

2007 Bow Wow — They had a cute minute in the lift, and he wasn’t annoying back then.

Zach the playwright — Hot hipster type, good for a rebound but kinda shallow. Still hot though.

Bad Tier

Stuart — God awful but still better than Henry.

5H(Jesse) — Kinda cute but the hair was bad. Also, a boring cliché of a guy.

The guy that left Betty at the bowling alley — he was ugly and mean, bad combo.

Larry — The district man’s friend was a bore.

The fireman — He was so frickin annoying.

Bottom Barrel (Shit) Tier

Henry — Egg salad was an appropriate nickname. V boring, too much baggage and just not worth it. I’d call him a square but that’s giving him an extra dimension which he doesn’t have. EURGH, I HATE THIS MAN!

Originally published at http://theconflictedpen.wordpress.com on April 16, 2020.